Concerned about Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Concerned about Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Mike Herman

Arthritis is the term used for over 100 rheumatoid and joint related diseases, with the most common being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The word arthritis refers to “joint inflammation” and rheumatoid arthritis is actually an attack on the immune system where the system turns on itself and attacks the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes joint pain and swelling, redness, warmth and can affect other organs of the body like skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood, nerves or kidneys.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects approximately 1% of the population, in which 75% of those diagnosed are women. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but scientists attribute this disease to a combination of genetic, environmental and hormonal factors.
With rheumatoid arthritis, something seems to trigger the immune system to attack itself. This could happen after a sudden trauma or a surgery, and the severity is not the same in all people. Some theories suggest that a virus or bacteria alter the immune system. Therefore, since the root cause of rheumatoid arthritis is so different from osteoarthritis, of course the treatment and remedies are different also.
Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed by a positive Rh factor, (a blood test), and x-rays that show rheumatoid deterioration in the joints. There are many different ways to treat rheumatoid arthritis, which include medication, rest, exercise and surgery. The medications fall into two specific categories, NSAIDs and DMARDs, and attempt to reduce the pain, swelling and inflammation. Humira, one of the latest discoveries, attempts to isolate the diseased cells so they cannot reproduce and cause more harm.
In the past 10 years, alternative medicine has also taken a predominant place in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Some of these non-prescription methods include:
* ibuprofen
* herbs such as cat’s claw and white willow to reduce pain
* glucosamine and chondriton are used to promote new cartilage growth
* warm baths in Epsom Salts
* application of menthol ointment to the affected joints
Rheumatoid arthritis is not to be taken lightly or ignored, so investigate the treatments and choose the best for yourself. About the Author
Are You Concerned About Rheumatoid Arthritis or a Type of Arthritis?

Bextra and Vioxx — Tips for Arthritis Relief Without Them

Bextra and Vioxx — Tips for Arthritis Relief Without Them
Charles Essmeier

The recent withdrawal of Vioxx and Bextra from the marketplace, due to concerns over unwanted side effects, has many arthritis sufferers concerned. These drugs, which belong to a powerful class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors, are quite effective at fighting the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Unfortunately, they have been linked to increased risk of strokes and heart attacks. Their manufacturers have voluntarily withdrawn them from the market. There are still alternative medications available, such as Celebrex, and traditional medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Aspirin and ibuprofen may not be suitable for everyone, as they can cause stomach discomfort in some people. While a good anti-inflammatory can certainly provide more comfort for arthritis pain, there are some non-medicinal steps that patients can take that may provide some relief from their pain.

  • Get plenty of rest. Your body works best when its well-rested, and its a well-known fact that most Americans fail to get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
  • Exercise. Joints and muscles work best when theyre well toned, and that is true for arthritis sufferers as well as the public at large. Not all exercises will be appropriate, however. A patient with arthritic knees will probably not benefit from playing basketball or tennis. Low impact exercise like walking or water aerobics may help, however. Patients with arthritis are advised to discuss exercise options with their physician.
  • Watch your weight. Arthritic joints work best when they arent overly burdened. If you are overweight, you are making a bad situation worse by forcing your joints to work harder than they otherwise might. A loss of just a few pounds could make a huge difference, especially if you suffer from arthritic knees.
  • These tips are certainly not intended to be a substitute for medication, but with a chronic condition like arthritis, every little bit that you can do to ease the stress on your aching joints can provide a bit more relief. About the Author
    Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including Bextra-Info.net, a site devoted to the withdrawn drug Bextra and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to structured settlements.

    Arthritis medications

    Arthritis medications
    Robert Kokoska

    Patients suffering from arthritis have to undergo a wide range
    of treatments which includes medication. There are over 100
    medications that are presently being used to treat arthritis.
    However medicines at this stage can only help people suffering
    from arthritis, and not act as a cure. The medicines can be used
    to reduce pain, improve joint mobility, decrease flare-ups and
    reduce inflammations.

    The aim of this article is to present an insight into 4 main
    types of medicines that can be used by arthritis patients.

    The first category is called pain-relieving medicines which
    include aspirin, paracetemol and ibuprofen. As a matter of fact,
    aspirin and ibuprofen are mainly anti-inflammatory drugs;
    however they also contain small amounts of pain killing doses.
    These pain relieving drugs are available at almost all chemists,
    without subscription from doctor.

    Anti-inflammatory medicines can be used to
    decrease flare-ups and reduce swelling. It comes in two packages
    which include Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and
    steroids. NSAIDs need to be taken over an extended period of
    time so to make it more effective. However its side effects
    include stomach problems. It is the most common prescribed
    medicine against arthritis. Some NSAIDs include naproxen
    (Naprosyn), fenbufen (Lederfen), piroxicam (Feldene) and Cox – 2
    inhibitors. However there have been concerns raised about the
    safety of Cox-2. Steoids are very effectives against
    inflammation. However they can cause harm to the body is used
    for a long period of time. They are mainly used to bring severe
    cases of arthritis under control before any further
    prescriptions are given.

    Disease-modifying medicines are used with cases
    which involves damage to the immune system such as by rheumatoid
    arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. They can be either
    taken in by mouth or through injections and deals with the whole
    of immune system, instead of the symptoms. Some types of this
    kind of medicine are methotrexate, sulfasalazine and gold
    (sodium aurothiomalate).

    Biologic response modifiers (BRMs) are
    increasingly being used in the treatment of arthritis. They were
    used to treat severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis, however now
    they have assumed a new role and are used to treat patients in
    the early stages of arthritis, so to prevent profound damage to
    the joints. Although many people with rheumatoid arthritis find
    BRMs effective, it is still not suited for everyone with
    arthritis. The downside of these products is that they are
    expensive and can only be given through injections or infusion.

    All medicines contain some side effects. Also these side effects
    may vary from patient to patient. Many patients undertaking
    arthritis related medicines experience certain side effects such
    as stomach pain. Nevertheless arthritis medicines can be very
    powerful and can have a profound effect on the body. There are
    certain approaches in order to reduce minimize the side effects.
    It is important to take to take medicines according to
    instructions such as 2 times in the day. Your doctor must be
    constantly supervising you so that he or she can see whether the
    intake is going according to the plan. Another important aspect
    to be taken into account is that the benefit of taking the
    medicine shall be weighed against the harm of not taking them.
    Arthritis can get worse if no medication is taken.

    The reason so many medicines for arthritis has been produced is
    to meet specific demand of arthritis patients. Also using one
    can have side effects. Therefore the range of medicines allows a
    person to choose ones that gives least side effects to him or
    her. Before you start taking any medicine, it is essential for
    you to contact your family so to great a grip of the actual
    situation and choose the medicine that best caters to your
    needs. Additionally, it is very important for pregnant women to
    consult their doctors. Some medicines contain strong side
    effects and can be harmful to the baby. Therefore it is
    essential to adjust medication in such cases.

    About the author:
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    Arthritis & Joint Health

    Arthritis & Joint Health
    StarHerb

    Arthritis & Joint Health :Many millions of people are affected by pain and suffering from Arthritis and research has shown that Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulphates combined have given these people new hope and relief from their painful ailments. Arthritis it causes pain, stiffness and sometimes swelling in or around joints. This can make it hard to complete simple movements you rely on every day for work or taking care of your family. But you can take steps now to avoid arthritis or to reduce pain and resume normal daily activities.There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and the cause of most types is unknown. Scientists are currently studying what roles three major factors play in certain types of arthritis. These include the genetic factors you inherit from your parents, events which occur during your life and how you live on a day-to-day basis. The importance of these factors varies by type of arthritis.Even though there is a lot of mystery surrounding arthritic joint pain, there is also a tremendous amount of research that points to certain nutrients that help nutritionally support this condition.Both short and long term studies have been performed with a nutrient called Glucosamine Sulfate. Glucosamine works to stimulate joint function and repair. It is most effective in treating osteoarthritis, the most prevalent form of arthritis. A number of studies over the last 20 years have shown this to be true. For example, a 1982 clinical study compared usage of the NSAID ibuprofen with glucosamine sulfate, for osteoarthritis of the knee. The over-all results showed that 44% of the glucosamine group had pain relief compared to 15% for ibuprofen.A long-term effects study was done with glucosamine and arthritis reported in the Lancet. the authors concluded that, “Glucosamine sulfate prevents the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee, in addition to relieving the symptoms.” The health supplements carry by StarHerb for Arthritic and Joint Pain not only contain all of these nutrients; it utilizes the exact forms that were shown in the studies to be effective. The forms which are the best to look for are:Glucosamine Sulfate 2Kcl which is the exact form used in most of the studies showing benefit.It is hard to enjoy your family, friends, hobbies or even money without your health and joint pain is definitely one of the big contributing factors to a poor quality of life. StarHerb Health Nutrition products formula brings these great joint nutrients to nutritionally support the body along with 100% of your daily needs of the essential nutrients all in one formula. About the Author
    http://www.starherb.com